Counter-balancing mechanism for stereo sets



y 27, 1965 R. M. WHlTTOM 3,196,480

COUNTER-BALANCING MECHANISM FOR STEREO SETS Filed Dec. 14, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1965 R. M. WHlTTOM 3,196,480

COUNTER-BALANCING MECHANISM FOR STEREO SETS Filed Dec. 14, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,196,480 COUNTER-BALANCINGMECHANISM FUR STEREO SETS Robert M. Whittom, Rockford, IlL, assignor toNational Lock (30., Rockford, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec.14, 1962, Ser. No. 244,763 3 Claims. (Cl. 16-141) The present inventionrelates to a counter-balancing mechanism for high fidelity andstereophonic sets and more particularly to a tilting hinge support forthe record changer or turntable of a wall-hung or table top stereophonicphonograph or radio-phonograph combination.

In the recent trend to wall-hung shelves or pole or frame supported wallunits; desks, book shelves and cabi nets are being provided in a morecompact form for use in such wall units to decrease the weight and spacerequirements. Likewise, stereophonic phonographs or stereoradio-phonograph combinations are being designed to be hung on the wallor fit in a bookcase or on a table top.

An illustrative stereophonic unit presents a compact appearance whenclosed having swing-out speakers forming doors for the cabinet toenclose the stereo components in the housing; which speakers are pivotedopen for operation and may be removed from their hinges to providegreater sound separation. The pre-amplifier and amplifier, and the radiowhere desired, are mounted in the housing with the control knobs anddials exposed and the changer or turntable is mounted in a base whichpivots or flips down from a vertical position exposing only the woo-dpanel or door on the bottom of the base to a horizontal position toallow playing of records.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a novelcounter-balancing pivot mechanism for a flip-down or pivoted recordchanger or turntable in a compact stereo console which will create aholding factor or friction that will prevent the base and changer orturntable from falling free when the door on the base is opened. As thechanger or turntable has a considerable amount of delicate mechanism andthe turntable generally is of substantial weight, the holding force inthe hinge mechanism must have positive effectiveness throughout the arcof travel of the base.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of acounter-balancing hinge or pivot mechanism tion in the weight of thechanger or turntable assembly,

and for convenience and ease of opening or closing the changer base inthe cabinet. The slide pivot moving in the arcuate slot includessuitable friction washers to obtain maximum frictional contact and anadjusting screw acting in cooperation with a screw plate can adjust thedegree of frictional contact of the washers contacting the cabinetbracket.

The present invention also comprehends the provision of acounter-balancing pivot mechanism which can be installed on the cabinetto provide either an external or an internal pivot for the changer base.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity,efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such furtherobjects, advantages and capabilitie as will later more fully appear andare inherently possessed thereby.

3,196,480 Patented July 27, 1965 In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stereo console having a changer orturntable base pivotally mounted in the cabinet with thecounter-balancing pivot of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the changer basein the cabinet with an internal pivot for the counter-balancingmechanism.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 except that the changer base ismounted with an external pivot.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the counterbalancing pivotmechanism.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, partially in cross section, of thepivot mechanism showing the cooperation between the various elements.

FIG. 6 is an exploded side view of the pivotal connection of thecounter-balancing mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the pivotal connection on thechanger base opposite to the mechanism of FIGS. 2 to 6.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a spring washer.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a suitable molded friction washer.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of a suitable friction washer.

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a screw plate used in the slidepivot.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein is shown anillustrative embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a portionof a stereo cabinet 10 having swingout stereo speaker 11, an PM or AM-FMtuner or radio 12 and a pivotal or tiltable base 13 for a record changer14. It is understood that a turntable and tone arm could be substitutedfor the changer assembly. The amplifier and controls therefor as well asa second speaker are housed in the portion of the cabinet 10 not shownin FIG. 1.

A counter-balancing frictional pivot mechanism 15 is mounted on one sideof the base 13 and a pivotal bracket 16 (FIG. 7) is mounted on theopposite side of the changer base so that the base 13 and the changer 14tilt or pivot about a horizontal axis from the position shown in FIG. 1to a second position where the base is completely enclosed in thecabinet 10 with only the bottom of the base exposed providing a doorpanel 17 for the cabinet.

This counter-balancing pivot mechanism 15 is more clearly shown in FIGS.4 and 5 includes a changer base bracket 18 and a cabinet bracket 19. Thechanger base bracket has two arms 21 and 22 formed at right angles toeach other with an offset portion 23 at the corner of the junction ofthe arms for a rivet or pivot pin 24. The arm 21 is attached to a slidepivot 25 to be later described and the arm 22 contains spaced openings26 adapted to receive suitable securing means 27 to secure this bracketto the changer base 13. The offset portion 23 has an opening 28 adaptedto receive a rivet 29 to act as the pivot for the changer base.

The cabinet bracket 19 includes a central portion 30 with openings 31for suitable securing means and having an offset area 32 at one cornerthereof with an opening 33 to receive the rivet 29. A suitable frictionwasher 34 and a spring washer 35 are mounted on the rivet 29 andsandwiched between the offset portions 23 and 32 of the brackets 18 and19, respectively, with the rivet 29 tightly secured to provide maximumfriction. The friction washer may be formed of any suitable materialsuch as a plastic as nylon.

Opposite the offset portion 32 is an arcuate offset portion 36 extendingover an arc of more than about a radius having the rivet 29 as thecenter. This oflfset portion 36 has an arcuate slot 37 centrally locatedtherein and extending to adjacent 'the ends 38 and 39 thereof.

. Beyond this offset portion 36 is a generally rectangular area 41 lyingin the same plane as the portion 30 and includes an opening 42, ahorizontally arranged elongated opening or slot 43, and a verticallyarranged elongated opening or slot 44 for receiving suitable securingmeans;

the openings 43' and 44 providing limited horizontal and ,verticaladjustmentof the bracket 19 in the cabinet 10.

.The arm 21 has a slightly offset end .45 containing anopening ,46 toreceive the adjusting screw 47 of the pivotal slide. Although anadjusting screw 47 is shown in the drawings, it is also contemplatedthat a rivet'might be utilized to form a permanent connection. Betweenthe offset end 45 and the arcuate offset portion36 of the cabinetbracket19 are disposed a spring washer 48 and a friction washer- 49. On theopposite side 'of'the bracket '19 are a molded friction washer 51 and ascrew plate52 having a tapped opening 53. Both the friction washer 49and the molded friction rwasher 51 are preferably formed of nylonandhave oppositely'disposed peripheral notches 54,to' receive thelaterallyprojecting arms 55 of the screwplate 52; said arms extendingthrough the arcuate slot 37. Further, themolded washer 51 has a raisedelongated area or embossment 56'extending between'the .notches '54 andadapted to be received within the slot 37 to aid in the, frictionalforces holding the base 13. in a fixed position.

posite the offset portion having an opening'therein pro- .viding the.center of curvature for said arcuate slot, a movable bracket, secured tothefirst member including two arms in a common plane and disposed atapproxi- -mate right anglesto each other, an offset portion at thejunction of the two arms and havingan opening aligned with theyopeningin the corner of the stationary bracket, pivotal means extending throughthe aligned openings joining the brackets together, a friction washerpositioned between the offset portions and on the pivotal means toresist rotation between the brackets, one of said arms being secured tothe first member, thesecond arm terminating in a free end having anopening aligned withthe arcuate slot, and a slide pivot secured to thesecond arm and theoifs'et arcuate portion on the stationary bracketincluding, a friction washer sandwichedbetween the secondarm and theoffset. arcuate portion and having a central opening aligned with saidopening in the second arm and the slot, 21 second friction washer havinga central opening aligned with the slot, said second washer be- ,ingpositioned behind the arcuate portion of the stationary bracket,a'screwplate having a threaded opening aligned They adjusting, screw '47has a slotted head 57 to be engaged by a suitable driver blade and thescrew is rotated relative to the; screw plate 52 to tighten or loosenthe slide pivot and thus adjust the zipplied'frictiouyrotation of thescrew plate;52 being prevented by the arms 55 extending through the slot37. i 7

FIGS. '2 and 3 ,show the manner in which this pivot mechanism 15 may beattached to the changer base 13 and to the. cabinet 10. FIG.,, 2 relatesto the counterbalancing mechanism with an internal pivot where the pivot24 is positioned between the base 13, andthe cabinet wall 10 and is notexposed ineitheropen or closed posi ;tion. FIG. 3, on the otherliand,shows the pivot 24 to be an external pivot which is not concealed by thechang- 'er base 13 in either open or closed position. The bracket .asshown in FIG. 3, however, is a mirror image of FIG.-

2 and mounted in I substantially cabinet and changer base.

A pivotal. bracket 16 which does not provide for any the same manner onthe with the arcuate slot, said screw plate abutting said second"friction washer, and an adjusting screw extending through the openingin said second arm, first friction washer,

arcuate slot and second frictionwasher and threadin'gly engaging theopening in said screw plate to adjust the frictional resistanceretarding movement of the slide pivot. i

2. A counter-balancing mechanism as setforth in claim '1, in whichsaidslide'pivot moves in said arcuate slot as the movable bracket rotatesabout said pivot means, said first friction washer having a pair ofoppositely disposed peripheral-notches therein aligned with said arcuateslot, said second friction washer having an elongated embossment and apair of oppositely disposed peripheral notches at the ends of,thejernbossment, said enibo ssment received 9 ,within and said notchesaligned with said arcuate slot, and

said screw-plate having a pair of oppositely disposed laterallyprojecting'legs on' the periphery of the plate,

saidlegs extending through said peripheral notches on the secondfriction washer, said arcuate slot and the notches in the first frictionwasher to provide a generally ,unitaryassembly.

frictional adjustment is mountedon the opposite side of :the changerbase 13 and includes a cabinet bracket plate 58 and a changer baseplate'59, each having openings 61 for suitable securing means. The plate58 alsov has a horizontal slot' 62 and a vertical slot 63 similar to theslots 43 and 44 of the'bracket 19'for purposes of limited adjustment.The plates 58 and 59 and adjacent offset portions 64 and 65,respectively, for a pivot 66 with openings 67 in the portions 64 andadapted to receive 1 a rivet 68, A suitable friction washer 69 issandwiched between the offset portions 64 and 65 to provide frictionalforces resisting relative movement between the plates.

While the improvement has beenshown and described as beingadvantageously applicable to the tilting changer base of a stereo set,it is not my'intent or desire to unnecessarily limit the scope or'theutility of the improved features by virtue of this illustrativeembodiment. Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A counter-balancing mechanism forsupporting one member for pivotalmovement relative to a second member, comprising a stationary brackethaving "a plate secured to the second member, an outwardly offsetarcuate 7 portion on the plate having an arcuate slot formed therein, anoutwardly offset corner of the plate generally op- 3. Acounter-balancing mechanism as set forth in claim 1, in which'saidoffset portion at the junction of the two arms'is offset toward saidstationary bracket, and said arm cooperating with the slide pivothasftheouter 'end .oit'set outwardly away from the stationary bracket.

References by the Examiner UNITED PATENTS DONLEY J. STOCKING,'PriI1iaryExaminer.

,FRANKB. SHERRY, Examiner.

1. A COUNTER-BALANCING MECHANISM FOR SUPPORTING ONE MEMBER FOR PIVOTALMOVEMENT RELATIVE TO A SECOND MEMBER, COMPRISING A STATIONARY BRACKETHAVING A PLATE SECURED TO THE SECOND MEMBER, AN OUTWARDLY OFFSET ARCUATEPORTION ON THE PLATE HAVING AN ARCUATE SLOT FORMED THEREIN, AN OUTWARDLYOFFSET CORNER OF THE PLATE GENERALLY OPPOSITE THE OFFSET PORTION HAVINGAN OPENING THEREIN PROVIDING THE CENTER OF CURVATURE FOR SAID ARCUATESLOT, A MOVABLE BRACKET SECURED TO THE FIRST MEMBER INCLUDING TWO ARMSIN A COMMON PLANE AND DISPOSED AT APPROXIMATE RIGHT ANGLES TO EACHOTHER, AN OFFSET PORTION AT THE JUNCTION OF THE TWO ARMS AND HAVING ANOPENING ALIGNED WITH THE OPENING IN THE CORNER OF THE STATIONARYBRACKET, PIVOTAL MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH THE ALIGNED OPENINGS JOININGTHE BRACKETS TOGETHER, A FRICTION WASHER POSITIONED BETWEEN THE OFFSETPORTIONS AND ON THE PIVOTAL MEANS TO RESIST ROTATION BETWEEN THEBRACKETS, ONE OF SAID ARMS BEING SECURED TO THE FIRST MEMBER, THE SECONDARM TERMINATING IN A FREE END HAVING AN OPENING ALIGNED WITH THE ARCUATESLOT, AND SLIDE PIVOT SECURED TO THE SECOND ARM AND THE OFFSET ARCUATEPORTION ON THE STATIONARY BRACKET INCLUDING A FRICTION WASHER SANDWICHEDBETWEEN THE SECOND ARM AND THE OFFSET ARCUATE PORTION AND HAVING ACENTRAL OPENING ALIGNED WITH SAID OPENING IN THE SECOND ARM AND THESLOT, A SECOND FRICTION WASHER HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING ALIGNED WITH THESLOT, SAID SECOND WASHER BEING POSITIONED BEHIND THE ARCUATE PORTION OFTHE STATIONARY BRACKET, A SCREW PLAT HAVING A THREADED OPENING ALIGNEDWITH THE ARCUATE SLOT, SAID SCREW PLATE ABUTTING SAID SECOND FRICTIONWASHER, AND AN ADJUSTING SCREW EXTENDING THROUGH THE OPENING IN SAIDSECOND ARM, FIRST FRICTION WASHER, ARCUATE SLOT AND SECOND FRICTIONWASHER AND THREADINGLY ENGAGING THE OPENING IN SAID SCREW PLATE TOADJUST THE FRICTIONAL RESISTANCE RETARDING MOVEMENT OF THE SLIDE PIVOT.